Quakers' Fourth Quarter Push Too Much For Marlins

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va.-- The Virginia Wesleyan women's basketball team was outscored 25-14 in the final quarter of play on its way to a 80-68 defeat to Guilford College Sunday afternoon in Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) play.

The Quakers started off with a 7-0 run to open the game in a high scoring first quarter, shooting 50% from the field. First-year Jayla Harris scored nine points in the first period for the Marlins, but the Quakers Anais Weatherly put up 10 points in the quarter giving her team a 27-21 advantage.

The Marlin defense was strong in the second quarter, holding the Quakers to 11 points. Sophomore Naeemah Morris scored 10 of her 11 points in the second period of play, topping her previous career high of eight points earlier this year at North Carolina Wesleyan. Morris' layup with 40 seconds remaining in the half put the Marlins up 40-38 going into the halftime break.

The Marlins would have their largest lead of the game at the 8:55 mark of the third quarter after two made free throws from junior Crystal Strother made the score 42-38. The Quakers would take back the lead following a made free throw by Ymani Breedlove with just over four minutes remaining in the third period.

Senior Kelly Jones hit a three to tie the game for the Marlins at 54 with 47 seconds left in the quarter, but the Quakers Amy Stellar would take the advantage back for good with a free throw before the quarter expired.

Trailing 55-54 heading into the final period of play, the Marlins would give up another 7-0 run to the Quakers to start the fourth quarter. Essence Abraham of the Quakers had nine of her 10 points in the final quarter, as her steal and layup with 7:15 remaining gave her team a double-digit lead.

Sophomore Raya Berkley added eight points in the final period, but the Quakers offense was too much, scoring 25 points in the fourth and shooting 53.3% from the field, while going 9-of-12 at the foul line.

Weatherly led Guilford (9-1/3-0) with 20 points and 14 boards, while Heaven Walters added 10 points. Abraham and Breedlove both came off the bench to have 10 and 11 points respectively, helping the Quaker bench edge out the Marlin bench 32-6.

All five starters for the Marlins recorded double-digit point totals, led by Harris' 18. Jones was 4-of-8 from behind the arc, scoring all 12 of her points on threes. Strother and Morris both added 11 points, as Berkley finished with 10.

Virginia Wesleyan (2-9/0-3) will host Randolph-Macon College (6-4/2-0) on Wednesday at 7 p.m.